170627 Impact of Adequate Prenatal Health Education: Benefits and Outcomes for Mothers and Their Babies

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Maria Guadalupe Lara, MD, MPH , Family Health Services, COPE Health Solutions, Los Angeles, CA
Monica Ramirez, BS , Public Health, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
The Impact of Adequate Prenatal Heath Education: Benefits and Outcomes for Mothers and Babies

A B S T R A C T

Objectives:

This abstract documents the benefits of prenatal health education for low-income pregnant women among the Latino community in the East San Gabriel Valley, region of Los Angeles County. The main goal of the Healthy Babies program was to enhance the quality of life during and post pregnancy through education and participation. The program benefited well-being through physical, social and emotional participation among the targeted population group. Crucial components of the program included active participation of pregnant women and their families as well as their community's support. In order to increase healthy life styles through education and support, critical attention was given to the most vulnerable members of the community low-income women and new immigrants.

Methods:

The program included monthly visits, consequently individual and personalized assessments, reinforcement of educational materials, and interaction in group sessions. Over 300 low-income women with little or no medical insurance, immigrant women with few resources, single mothers, and women with history of domestic violence and/or substance abuse, enrolled and participated in the program

Results:

During the 5 years the program has operated many participants have re-enrolled during their 2nd or 3rd pregnancies. In addition, the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Unit Care) length of stay for the study on average has been 2.5 days shorter for babies born to Healthy Babies participants than that of the rest of the Medi-Cal client population delivering at CVMC (Citrus Valley Medical Center). Also, 34% of Healthy Babies participants demonstrated exclusive breastfeeding upon hospital discharge compared with only 22% of all other women covered by Medi-Cal who delivered at CVMC.

Conclusion:

The results of the program demonstrate that with adequate prenatal care education, pregnant women can gain confidence to adopt positive healthy lifestyles. Ultimately, programs like this can reduce poor birth outcomes by offering a system of support for women who lack familial support, language barries and skills, while empowering them to acquire and implement good parenting skills.

Learning Objectives:
Objectives: This abstract documents the benefits of prenatal health education for low-income pregnant women among the Latino community in the East San Gabriel Valley, region of Los Angeles County. The main goal of the Healthy Babies program was to enhance the quality of life during and pot pregnancy through education and participation. The program benefited well-being through physical, social and emotional participation among the targeted population group. Crucial components of the program included active participation of pregnant women and their families as well as their community's support. In order to increase healthy lifestyles through education and support, critical attention was given to the most vulnerable members of the community low-income women and new immmigrants. Methods: The program included monthly visits, consequently individual and personalized assessments, reinforcement of educational materials, and interaction in group sessions. Over 300 low-income women with little or no medical insurance, immigrant women with few resources, single mothers, and women with history of domestic violence and/or substance abuse, enrolled and participated in the program. Results: During the 5 years the program has operated many participants have re-enrolled during their 2nd or 3rd pregnancies. In addition, the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Unit Care) lenght of stay fir the study on average has been 2.5 days shorter for babies born to Healthy Babies participants than that of the rest of the Medi-Cal client population delivering at CVMC (Citrus Valley Medical Center). Also, 34% of Healthy Babies participants demonstrated exclusive breastfeeding upon hospital discharge compared only 22% of alll other women covered by Medi-Cal who delivered at CVMC. Conclusion: The results of the program demonstrate that with adequate prenatal care education, pregnant women can gain confidence to adopt positive health lifestyles. Ultimately, programs like this can reduce poor birth outcomes by offering a system of support for women who lack familial support, language barriers, support system, and skills, while empowering them to acquire and implemented good parenting skills.

Keywords: Community Health Programs, American Journal of Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I wrote the abstract myself.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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